Mechanism for transporting earth.



PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

W. ZIMMERMAN.

MECHANISM FOR TRANSPORTING EARTH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9,1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR TRANSPORTING EARTH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed July 9, 1902. Serial No. 114889.

To U whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism forTransporting Earth, which are fully set forth in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof, and in which Figure 1 shows in perspective one form of mysaid new device ready to load. Fig. 2 shows Fig. 1 in end viewdischarging a load of earth into a wagon-box, some of the details ofrope gearing and other parts being omitted to leave the modified form ofthe attachment, which is shown in plainer form.

Fig. 3 shows in sectional end view the loaded carrier or carrying-platesa of Figs. 1 and 2 hinged at 1 to a box or casing above them in theposition they will be in at the time of hav carrying-bar above them andmechanism.

modified by the use of the parts 0 for bringing them into and releasingthem from a hori Zontal or loading into an unloading position, thelatter indicated in broken outlines. 7 shows the mechanism shown in Fig.6 for locking and releasing the plates a a into the loading andunloading position, the latter indicated in broken outlines.

bottomattached to its supporting and carrying mechanism below said box.Fig. 9 shows Fig. 8 in side elevation ready for work, its

bottom'being indicated in sectional form to distinguish it more readily.Fig. 10 shows a form of mechanism for locking the plates a a to the box.Fig. 11 shows an end view of an elevated or overhead railroad and truck,to which is attached a pair of plates with upturned edges ready to load.Fig. 12 shows the elevated railroad of Fig. 11 in side elevation and thebeam Z) of a car-box a hitched to the elevated car-truck Q) ready toseparate said box from its carrier or truckaxles r, and at the other endof said railroad is shown the completed separation of said axles and boxFig.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional end view of the box a its hinged and the latterdischarged of its load, as shown by the broken outline of the bottom aof said box. There is also shown in said figure in broken outlines theopposite position of said railroad and grade or inclination of the trackt, the latter being level and the track t in clined, whereby withsuflicient distance, according to inclination of track or tracks, thebox and its axle may be separated, as shown. Fig. 13 shows inperspective a view of one end of a single plate supported at itslongitudinal center and releasably supported at each side edge. Fig. 14shows fragments of opposite carrying-plates provided with fingers a forholding the tangent edges of said plates in the same plane. Brokenoutlines indicate their locked position when the edges of the platestouch. Fig. 15 shows in end elevation a pair of plates ready to load andhow they are moved into that position by the operation of theconnecting-rope c and how they are held by the fingers cf. Fig. 16 showsan end elevation of my said new device, of which Fig. 17 is a sideelevation showing the dirt-holder 11 attached to the post d. In theformer figure is also shown in broken outline how the plates move andthe position of the several parts as they move from the unloaded to theloading position.

Like reference-letters denote like parts in all the figures.

The object of my invention is to rovide better means for transportingearth t an has heretofore been known for railroad construction, mining,canal-work, excavating cellars, road-making, and wherever earth, rock,minerals, &c., are excavated and transported, and, finally, in saidobject to save, as far as possible, the manual labor now called forth inthe use of the shovel in connection with ordinary wagons, carts, and thelike.

To attain said desirable ends, I construct my said new mechanism insubstantially the following manner, namely: I use plates at, preferablysheets of steel of suitable dimensions and strength, and connect them bywire ropes c, as herein shown, by lines or chains to a carrying-beam b,above the load, and to said plates. Preferably said plates will be sohung as to discharge by spreading apart and depositing on but oneridge-line, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 15. Said platesmay also be made to discharge on two ridges or lines, as when they turnon a m. When there is but one line on which the discharge falls, thesuspendlng-ropes c are placed nearer to the outer edges of the plates,while in the other case, where there are two lines of discharge, saidropes are placed at or near the longitudinal center, as for the singleplate a on rope 0 under the posts (1, Fig. 13, ornear the line ofjunction of two plates, as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 13 there is alsoshown a releasable support or bridle h on each longitudinal edge whichis held by checking-hooks h in a check-ring, moved by a trip-cord h likecorresponding parts shown in the other figures of this application, andthere is also a trip-cord k secured. to the outer edge of the plate apassed over the beam 1) for the purpose of raising that edge and aidingthe action of dumping the load. The posts of of Fig. 13 may be connectedand braced to the beam 6, as shown in Fig. 1. The said load-carryingplates (1 a may also have their outer edges turned up, as shown at 0.for greater strength and load capacity.

On the plain or fiat sheets a (shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 15) mayalso be placed abox a (Shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9.) There is alsoa rope or bridle c with its ends fastened near the inner or abuttingedges of the plates at each end of them, which serves to confine andrelease said plates to and from the horizontal or load-receivingposition and which may also be of such length as will be suitable toconfine the plates 0. when discharging to a fixed separating distance,as shown at c in Fig. 15, and a rope c in Fig. 3, but to which saidplates and preferably is added. a special rope 0 Fig. 15, as thereindicated in both full and broken lines, to clearly show the operationof said rope and plates.

Branch ropes 0 may also descend vertically to the plates a from theropes c, on which as the plates (1 turn is cast the weight of theirload, whereby the line of support is moved nearer to the center ofravity, and thereby is retarded the drop of t e discharging load and itsshock lessened.

Another modification of the construction of the suspending-r0 es shownin Fig. 6 is shownin Fi 2 and t eir action indicated in both full anbroken lines. In said modification, Fig. 2, the branch ro es 0 are theequivalents of said ropes c ut in this case they are elon ated andfastened to the beam 1), and the bridle c is not shown merely for thepurpose of avoiding confusion, though it or equivalent mechanism isnecessary for holding and releasing the load. By means of saidarrangement of the ropes theplates a will not only discharge well,butthey will also more readily resume the original and normal horizontalposition when released of their load. Manual assistance will be butslight and seldom required, even without said branch ropes, to bringsaid lates to their loading position, as their touc 'ng edges willse'aeie be quite close to each other when they touch the ground, and theposts (1" or (1 will separate them, so that they will fall from eachother, after which by the weight of the plates the ropes 0 will bringthem together, as clearly indicated by the positions of the plates (1 inFig. 15, the rope 0 being of exact right length when taut to so unitethe edges of the plates. To prevent the contact edges of the plates afrom slipping one over the other, I attach fingers a under the plates ain alternate positions, as shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 14 andindicated under the plates at in Figs. 6 and 15.

The bridle c is secured by a check bar or hook h, which may be hung on achain or rope h as shown in Figs. 7 and 15, which is hitched to thesupporting-beam b or to the end supporting-posts, as (1, d or (i Whensaid posts are used, the hooks may be connected to them by a fewchain-links to-allow them to work more freely. A check-ring k on a ropeh is slipped over the end of the checkhook h, and it thus holds thebridle c in locked or raised position, from which it may be released bya trip-cord 7?, which raises said ring above the free end of thecheck-bar. Large end plates (1 may be used to hold the ends of the looseearth piled up in the longitudinal center of the load. Braces g, eitherflexible or rigid, serve to hold the beam 1) and .posts (1 d to place,they having pivoted connections 0 and o with the beam 1).

When the loaded plates a are to betransported farther than is within thereach of a crane g, a wheeled conveyance, a truck on a trackatrack-truc'kis provided, which has a pair of axles 1', bent twice atright angles between the wheels w to receive and hold said plates orplate with box 0, as near to the ground as possible. The flanged wheelsto run on rails 25, which are laid on plates 8. Hooks i, attached to aspring i and provided with'levered eccentrics i and operatin cord is inthe end of said lever, throw said ooks outward and away from the platesa to release the bottom of the boxe Said hooks erform the same functionas the bridlesc.

nd plates (1, attached to the box a holdthe supporting-beam b in slotsat, and pawls e on the plates d hold and release said beam. When the boxa is in loading position, the beam 1) is lifted and the pawls e areushedunder it, as shown in Fig. 8. When t e load is lifted by the beam 6,there is play enough to release said pawls and allow the springs fto'throw them outward. A weightf, forming an integral part of the pawle, which'turns on a pivot 6 also serves to throw the .pawl into the openposition, as indicated by its broken outlines. I

The railroad s t is laid within the reach of the crane g, from whencethe load is lifted by the rope u and pulley p and dumped into a IIOwagon a. The bar I; may also be carried byI 3 o an elevated railroadt ona truck 12, through which-the truckr w, Figs. 8 and 9, may be releasedby lifting said bar in any known and convenient mannerhighenough to freesaid lower truck and so that it may be taken from under saidcarrying-plates, and thereby permitthe downward turning of the platesand the discharge of the load.

When the box a is used and the carryingplates a hingedat Z or m and theropes 0 set inward from the line of said hinges, said plates, owing tothe position of said ropes, will assume the positions indicated in Figs.3 and 5, whereby when their free edges touch the axles 1' they will becaused to rise and close up bytheir own .weight. and that of thesuperimposed attachments, and thus automatically close into thelocking-hooks i.

Where the nature of the work renders it possible to lap the overhead orelevated rail road t with the ground railroad t, their grades may bemade to approach each other to a point where thetruck '0 may be hitchedto the carrying-beam b, from which oint both trucks must move in unisonuntil the load is raised far enough above the groundtruck to free andstop it, the load going onto the dump on the upper track. Where suchlapping of the tracks is not practicable, lifting mechanism mustraisethe load to the elevated railroad truck.

When the load is dumped, the truck returns and brings the plates overthe groundtruck by simply reversing the motions of the interchangingparts.

The inward pointing of the free edges of the discharged plates, owing tothe manner in which they are hung to the carrying-ropes, tends to bringtheir meeting edges together in all cases, as shown in either Figs. 2,6, 7, 15, or 16, when said free edges touch the ground, or, as shown inFigs. 3 or 5, when said free edges touch the axles 1, the superimposedweight will cause saidedges to slide on the axles, and to thus close upunder the box a Said box is no part of the carrying mechanism but it iscarried by the carrying-plates and is by them reciprocated vertically intheir discharge and return to normal position.

By placing the carrying mechanism or ropes 0 within the marginal edgesof the plates a and connecting them to the supporting-beam b is attainedthe capacity to use the plates with or without a box a and without orwith a wheeled truck or carrying mechanism r w and to load with shovelsand to discharge theload and to return the plates into the horizontalposition and to fasten them therein and to connect .the entire loadingmechanism through its supporting-beam b to a truck 12 on an elevatedrailroad.

Both railroads are also called trucked carrying mechanism. Their trucks'1) and r w are brought into a vertical line at a point where the endsof the respective tracks 8 and t overlap and end.

The load is piled on the plates at with shovels or any other mechanismas long as the material will hold. It is then lifted by means of a craneor other suitable mechanism, attached to the supporting-bar b andbrought over the vehicle M, which is to be loaded with it, and dumpedtherein. It is then brought back and lowered, and after touching theground with its contact edges it will automatically bring itself intoposition for reloading, as already indicated, and only needs thechecking up of the bridles to be fully ready for raising another load.

In this device the carrying ropes, chains, or like devices are connecteddirectly to the supporting-bar b and the carrying-plates a.

The term supporting mechanism means the beam 1) or its equivalent andits legs d d The equivalent of said legs is shown in the parts d, Figs.8 and 9, and the tensional mech anism refers to the ropes or chains,bridles, and their equivalents, The trucks are the wheeled carryingmechanism.

What I claim is 1. The combination with rotary carrying- .plates and suporting mechanism to stand on said plates, 0' tensional and separabletensional carrying mechanism to said plates and to said supportingmechanism, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with rotary carryingplates and supporting mechanismstanding on, and reciprocating to and from said plates, of tensionalcarrying, and tensional carrying and discharging mechanism to saidplates and supporting mechanism, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with rotary carryingplates and severable wheeledcarrying mech anism under said plates and supporting mechanism over saidplates, of tensional carrying and discharging mechanismto connect saidplates and supporting mechanism, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with rotary carryingplates and wheeled mechanismunder them and supporting mechanism over them, of tensional carrying anddischarging mechanism connecting said plates and supporting mechanismand elevated wheeled mechanism and track therefor, substantiallyas-specified.

5. The combination with rotary carryingplates and wheeled mechanismunder them and supporting mechanism over them, of ten sional carryingand discharging mechanism connecting said plates and supporting mechanism and elevated wheeled mechanism and track therefor and means totransfer the load from one to another of said wheeled elements,

substantially as specified.

6. The combination with rotary carryingplates and supporting mechanismstanding IIO i on and reciprocable to and from said plates,

- supporting mechanism to the upper ends of said tensional mechanism, asurface railroad and an elevated railroad capable of variant gradesbetween them, of trucks to said railroads and means to shift the loadfrom one truck to the other, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with carrying-plates, tensional mechanism to saidplates, supporting mechanism to said tensional mechanism, resting andfreely movable on and to and from said plates, of an elevated railroadand truck thereto and means to connect said tensional mechanism andtruck, substantially as specified.

10. The combination with rotary carryingplates provided with fingeredmeeting edges, and supporting mechanism on said plates, freely movablein limited direction and range, of tensional carrying mechanismconnecting said plates and supporting mechanism and means to contactsaid edges automatically, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with carrying-plates with fingered meeting edges,and supporting mechanism over said plates, of tensional carryingmechanism connecting said plates and supporting mechanism, and means tocontact said edges automatically, and means to lock and release saidplates, substantially as specified.

12. The combination with rotary carrying.

plates, of tensional carrying mechanism, and separable tensionalelements, said separable tensional elements, intermediate said carryingelements and the meeting edges of said plates, substantially asspecified.

13. The combination with rotary carryingplates and severable wheeledcarrying mechanism under said plates, and supporting mechanism over saidplates, of tensional carrying and discharging mechanismto connect saidplates and supporting mechanism and means to sever said wheeledmechanism from said plates, substantially as specified.

14. The combination with carrying-plates, carrying tensional mechanismto said plates, supporting mechanism to the free ends of said tensionalmechanism, and a surface railroad and an elevated railroad havingrelative vertical grades of any suitable angle, of trucks to saidrailroads and means to shift the load from one truck to the other,substantially as specified.

15. The combination with rotary carryingplates, fingered under theirmeeting edges, of tensional carrying mechanism and separable tensionalcarrying mechanism, intermediate said carrying mechanism and edges, tosaid plate, substantially as specified.

16. The combination with carrying-plates, tensional carrying mechanismto said plates, supporting mechanism to the free ends of said tensionalmechanism, an elevated railroad capable of any vertical grade andhorizontal direction, means to convey said plates, a truck to saidrailroad, and means to shift the load from one conveyance to the other,substantially as specified.

17. The combination with carrying-plates, tensional carrying mechanismto said plates, supporting mechanism to the free ends of said tensionalmechanism, an elevated railroad capable of any vertical grade andhorizontal direction, a truck to said railroad, and means to connectsaid tensional mechanism to said truck, substantially as specified.

18. The combination with carryingplates, supporting mechanism to standon said plates, tensional carrying mechanism, and separable V tensionalcarrying mechanism to said plates,

and to said supporting mechanism, of an elevated railroad, and truckthereto, and means to connect said tensional mechanism and truck,substantially as specified.

19. The combination with tensional elements, of rotatable load-carryingtangent elements to the lower ends of said tensional elements andseparable tensional elements to said rotatable elements, intermediatesaid tersional elements, substantially as specifie 20. The combinationwith rotatable loadcarrying and fingered tangent elements, of connectedtensional elements to said rotatable elements, and separable tensionalelements, intermediate said tensional elements, substantially asspecified.

21. The combination with tensional elements, of rotatable load-carryingelements to said tensional elements, and separable tensional elements tosaid rotatable elements, intermediate said tensional elements,substantially as specified.

22. The combination with tensional elements connected to rotatableload-carrying elements and separable tensional elements, intermediatesaid tensional elements, to said rotatable elements, of an elevatedrailroad, a truck thereon, and means to connect said rotary elements tosaid truck, substantially as specified.

WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN. Witnesses:

G120. E. DAWSON, BERTRAM E. SHERMAN.

